Highest Run Aggregate in a Test Series by West Indian Batsmen 1928 – 2021

Highest run aggregate in a Test Series 1928 – 2021

By West Indian Batsmen

March 3, 2022

By Dale Brown

This exercise will identify the West Indian batsmen who have scored an aggregate of at least 400 runs in a Test series.

The number of runs (400) is based on, but certainly not limited to a 5 match Test series. The premise is that in a 5-match series, the player would average 80 runs per match.

Unfortunately, the past 20 years have seen the majority of Test series being contested over 3 or fewer Tests. Players whose careers started after 2000 have less opportunities to feature on the list.

It should be noted that due to the paucity of matches during the pre-war era, players such as the great George Headley will not be featured much.

The players are listed according to their series aggregates in each country and also by their performances at home against each visiting team.

 

West Indies in Australia, 15 occasions.

• Desmond Haynes (1988/89) – 5 matches -537 runs, avg. 59.66;
• Richie Richardson (1988/89) – 5 matches -528 runs, avg. 58.66;
• Rohan Kanhai (1960/61) – 5 matches -503 runs, avg. 50.30;
• Garry Sobers (1968/69) – 5 matches -497 runs, avg. 49.70;
• Franz Alexander (1960/61) – 5 matches -484 runs, avg. 60.50;
• Clive Lloyd (1975/76) – 6 matches* – 469 runs, avg. 46.90;
• Brian Lara (1992/93) – 5 matches – 466 runs, avg. 58.25;
• Larry Gomes (1984/84) -5 matches – 451 runs, avg. 64.42;
• Vivian Richards (1988/89) – 5 matches – 446 runs, avg. 55.75;
• Garry Sobers (1960/61) -5 matches – 430 runs, avg. 43.00;
• Joey Carew (1968/69) -5 matches – 427 runs, avg. 47.44;
• Vivian Richards (1975/76) – 6 matches* -426 runs, avg. 38.72;
• Alvin Kallicharran (1975/76)- 6 matches*- 421 runs, avg. 38.27;
• Roy Fredericks (1975/76)- 6 matches*-417 runs, avg 37.90;
• Basil Butcher (1968/69) 5 matches- 405 runs, avg 40.50;

West Indies in England ,17 occasions.

• Vivian Richards (1976) – 4 matches -829 runs, avg 118.42;
• Brian Lara (1995)- 6 matches*- 765 runs, avg 85.00;
• Garry Sobers (1966) -5 matches -722 runs, avg 103.14;
• Gordon Greenidge (1976) – 5 matches -592 runs, avg 65.77;
• Gordon Greenidge* (1984) – 5 matches -572 runs, avg 81.71;
• Frank Worrell (1950) – 4 matches- 539 runs, avg 89.83;
• Roy Fredericks (1976) – 5 matches- 517 runs, avg 57.44;
• Seymour Nurse (1966) – 5 matches- 501 runs, avg 62.62;
• Rohan Kanhai (1963) – 5 matches- 497 runs, avg 55.22;
• Richie Richardson (1991)- 5 matches- 495 runs, avg 55.00;
• Conrad Hunte (1963)- 5 matches – 471 runs, avg 58.87;
• Sherwin Campbell (1995) – 6 matches*- 454 runs, avg 45.40;
• Shiv Chanderpaul (2007) – 3 matches – 446 runs, avg 148.66;
• Shiv Chanderpaul (2004) – 4 matches – 437 runs, avg 72.83;
• Basil Butcher (1966) – 5 matches – 420 runs, avg 60.00;
• Larry Gomes (1984) -5 matches- 400 runs, avg 80.00;
• Chris Gayle (2004)- 4 matches- 400 runs, avg 50.00;

West Indies in India ,14 occasions.

• Everton Weekes (1948/49) – 5 matches -779 runs, avg. 111.28;
• Clive Lloyd (1974/75) – 5 matches – 636 runs, avg. 79.50;
• Garry Sobers (1958/59) – 5 matches – 557 runs, avg. 92.83;
• Rohan Kanhai (1958/59) – 5 matches – 538 runs, avg. 67.25;
• Alvin Kallicharran (1978/79) 6 matches*- 538 runs, avg. 59.77;
• James Adams (1994/95) 3 match series* – 520 runs, avg. 173.33;
• Clive Lloyd (1983/84) 6 matches*- 496 runs, avg. 82.66;
• Basil Butcher (1958/59) 5 matches – 486 runs, avg. 69.42;
• Faoud Bacchus (1978/79) 6 matches*- 472 runs, avg. 47.20;
• Alvin Kallicharran (1974/75) 5 matches -454 runs, avg. 56.75;
• Clyde Walcott (1948/49) 5 matches – 452 runs, avg. 64.57;
• Gordon Greenidge (1983/84) 6 matches* 411 runs, avg. 51.37;
• Larry Gomes (1978/79) 6 matches* -405 runs, avg. 40.50;
• Darren Bravo (2011/12) 3 match series* -404 runs, avg 67.33;

West Indies in New Zealand, 2 occasions.

• Seymour Nurse (1968/69) 3 match series*– 558 runs, avg. 111.60;
• Everton Weekes (1955/56) 4 matches – 418 runs, avg. 83.60;

West Indies in Pakistan, 1 occasion.

• Brian Lara (2006/07) – 3 match series* –448 runs, avg. 60;

West Indies in South Africa, 1 occasion.

• Brian Lara (2003/04) 4 matches – 531 runs, avg. 37;

West Indies in Sri Lanka, 1 occasion.

• Brian Lara (2001/02) 3 match series* – 688 runs, avg. 114.66;

 Australia in WI, 12 occasions.

• Clyde Walcott (1955) – 5 matches – 827 runs, avg. 82.70;
• Conrad Hunte (1964/65) 5 matches – 550 runs, avg. 61.11;
• Brian Lara (1998/99) 4 matches -546 runs, avg. 91.00;
• Brian Lara*(2003) 4 matches – 533 runs, avg. 66.62;
• Richie Richardson (1990/91) – 5 matches- 475 runs, avg. 67.85;
• Everton Weekes (1955) – 5 matches – 469 runs, avg. 58.62;
• Desmond Haynes (1983/84) – 5 matches- 468 runs, avg. 93.60;
• Rohan Kanhai (1964/65) – 5 matches – 462 runs, avg. 46.20;
• Shiv Chanderpaul (2008) – 3 match series* -442 runs, avg. 147.33;
• Desmond Haynes (1990/91)-5 matches-412 runs, avg. 51.50;
• Alvin Kallicharran (1977/78)- 5 matches- 408 runs, avg. 51.00;
• Basil Butcher (1964/65) -5 matches- 405 runs, avg. 40.50;

England in WI, 16 occasions.

• Brian Lara (1993/94) – 5 matches -798 runs, avg. 99.75;
• Garry Sobers (1959/60) – 5 matches – 709 runs, avg. 28;
• George Headley (1929/30) -4 matches- 703 runs, avg. 87.87;
• Clyde Walcott (1953/54)- 5 matches – 698 runs, avg. 87.25;
• Ramnaresh Sarwan (2008/09) – 5 matches- 626 runs, avg. 33;
• Lawrence Rowe (1973/74) – 5 matches -616 runs, avg. 88.00;
• Garry Sobers (1967/68) – 5 matches -545 runs, avg. 90.83;
• Rohan Kanhai (1967/68) – 5 matches- 535 runs, avg. 44;
• Brian Lara (2003/04) – 4 matches – 500 runs, avg. 83.33;
• Everton Weekes (1953/54) – 4 matches -487 runs, avg. 69.57;
• George Headley (1934/35)- 4 matches – 485 runs, avg. 00;
• Desmond Haynes (1985/86)- 5 matches – 469 runs, avg. 16;
• Clifford Roach (1929/30) – 4 matches – 467 runs, avg. 58.37;
• Seymour Nurse (1967/68) – 5 matches- 434 runs, avg. 43.40;
• John K. Holt Jr. (1953/54) -5 matches – 432 runs, avg. 54.00;
• Brian Lara (1997/98)- 6 matches* – 417 runs, avg. 52.12;

India in WI, 13 occasions.

• Everton Weekes (1952/53) -5 matches- 716 runs, avg.102.28;
• Richie Richardson (1988/89)- 4 matches – 619 runs, avg. 88.42;
• Garry Sobers (1970/71) – 5 matches – 597 runs, avg. 74.62;
• Carl Hooper (2002) – 5 matches- 579 runs, avg. 82.71;
• Shiv Chanderpaul (2002)- 5 matches- 562 runs, avg. 140.50;
• Vivian Richards (1974/75) – 4 matches- 556 runs, avg. 92.66;
• Charlie Davis (1970/71) – 4 matches – 529 runs, avg. 132.25;
• Rohan Kanhai (1961/62) -5 matches – 475 runs, avg. 70.71;
• Clyde Walcott (1952/53) -5 matches -457 runs, avg.76.16;
• Shiv Chanderpaul (1996/97) -5 matches – 443 runs, avg. 73.83;
• Rohan Kanhai (1970/71) – 5 matches- 433 runs, avg. 54.12;
• Garry Sobers (1961/62) -5 matches- 424 runs, avg. 70.66;
• Clive Lloyd (1982/83) – 5 matches – 407 runs, avg. 67.83;

 

                                   New Zealand in WI, 3 occasions.      

• Roy Fredericks (1971/72) -5 matches – 487 runs, avg. 54.11;
• Charlie Davis (1971/72) – 5 matches- 466 runs, avg. 58.25;
• Lawrence Rowe (1971/72) -4 matches – 419 runs, avg. 69.83;

Pakistan in WI, 7 occasions.

• Garry Sobers (1957/58)- 5 matches -824 runs, avg. 137.33;
• Conrad Hunte (1957/58) – 5 matches- 622 runs, avg. 77.75;
• Gordon Greenidge (1976/77) -5 matches- 536 runs, avg. 53.60;
• Roy Fredericks (1976/76) -5 matches- 457 runs, avg. 50.77;
• Everton Weekes (1957/58) – 5 matches- 455 runs, avg. 65.00;
• Roston Chase (2017) –3 match series* – 403 runs, avg. 100.75;
• Desmond Haynes (1992/93)- 3 match series*- 402 runs, avg.; 134.00

South Africa in WI, 2 occasions.

• Shiv Chanderpaul (2005) – 4 matches- 450 runs, avg 90.00;
• Brian Lara (2000/01) – 5 matches – 400 runs, avg 40.00;

Special Notes

The following players are recognized for their extraordinary achievement in scoring over 400 runs in a three-match series or  playing in three matches during a longer series.

Brian Lara 688 runs v Sri Lanka 2001/02 and 448 runs v Pakistan 2006/07; Seymour Nurse 558 runs v New Zealand 1968/69; James Adams 520 runs v India 1994/95; Shivnarine Chanderpaul 446 runs v England 2007; and 442 runs v Australia 2009; Darren Bravo 404 runs v India 2011/12; Roston Chase 403 runs v Pakistan 2017 and Desmond Haynes 402 runs v Pakistan 1992/92.

It should also be noted that Franz Alexander is the only West Indian wicketkeeper to score over 400 runs in a series. A feat he achieved against Australia during the historic 1960/61 series.

 

 

Summary

Thirty-three West Indian batsmen have scored at least 400 runs in a series on 104 occasions. Here are the West Indian batsmen who have the most entries on the list.

Brian Lara – 11 entries; Garfield Sobers – 9 entries;

Rohan Kanhai – 7 entries; Everton Weekes – 6 entries;

Shiv Chanderpaul – 6 entries; Desmond Haynes – 5 entries;

Clyde Walcott, Basil Butcher, Clive Lloyd, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Gordon Greenidge, Vivian Richards and Richie Richardson with 4 entries each.

800 Runs in a series – 3 occasions

Viv Richards (829) Clyde Walcott (827) and Garry Sobers (824) are the only West Indians to score over 800 runs in a Test series.

700 Runs in a series – 7 occasions

Brian Lara 798 and 765, Everton Weekes 779 and 716, Garry Sobers 722 and 709 and George Headley 703 are the players in this group of batsmen.

Overall, there have been ten occasions when a West Indian batsman has scored over 700 runs in a series.

Garry Sobers leads the list with 3 entries, Everton Weekes and Brian Lara are next with 2 each, George Headley, Clyde Walcott and Vivian Richards complete the list with 1 entry each.

Players such as George Headley, Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott, Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai, Vivian Richards and Brian Lara represented the very best of West Indian batting artistry and power. They were all exceptionally proficient technicians with the uncanny ability to improvise and execute the most exhilarating strokes and as such, had few equals.